Need advice on clothes I want returned to me

[Pjsandpringles]

I was on holiday last month and during my trip I got friendly with someone. When I left the hotel I realised I had left a few items of clothing in my hotel room. I messaged my "friend" to tell her how stupid I had been and also messaged the hotel to arrange to have them sent back to me. She offered to collect them and send them when she got back. I thought this would be easier since they would be in the same country and I'd get them quicker.

It's now a month later and she still hasn't sent them and isn't responding to my messages. Any advice on what I should do?

I have asked her. I've had 1 reply saying she would post them tomorrow (2 weeks ago). I asked if she had a tracking number and how much I owe her and no reply

Five hour journey not worth it then. That’s a bugger, op.

OK, so if you have her work details you can probably get her address with a bit of detective work. Or you may be able to do a Small Claim using her work address. Small Claim is literally all you can do to force her to return the stuff.

Realistically theres not a lot you can do. Slagging her off on social media wont exactly encourage her to do the right thing. Small claims court is extra expense and hassle. The clothes are gone and the money is gone. Nobody is saying your friend is in the right, but it was your property to look after.

Just seen your update - she was probably hoping to say they'd got lost in the post or something

No she lives in the UK

Or did you mean she is now in the same country as you and had brought them back in her luggage? Sorry it wasn't too clear until you said she lives within driving distance!

Edit - thanks for clarifying!

Yes it was and if she hadn't offered to get them then the hotel would have sent them to me and I would have them back by now.

She's hardly a 'friend' as you only met her on holiday. I reckon she figured out the clothes were expensive and has sold them. Check on Vinted or e-bay, you might see them there!

It's a (costly) mistake for sure, I doubt you will be receiving them in the post any time soon.

Then I will go through small claims. And contact her employers

Either you think a 5 hour drive is worth it for £1000, or you don't.

I agree you check with the hotel whether they have been collected and get back in touch with her. You could saying have your business details so could contact you on that if it's easier".

But I don't think you can complain if you arent/weren't willing to go and get the stuff yourself.

Otherwise it's all sounding a bit "CF friend with my Dyson airwrap"

I'm not sure you can go through small claims for this. You let them and she offered but didn't. I think this is one you need to let go and just be more careful in the future.

Honestly, you lost them the moment you left the hotel without them. Keep checking ebay/vinted/depop.

I'd be taking a weekend break in her town and going to get them if it were me.

Why would you contact her employers?

Send another message telling her you'll arrange a pick up from Evri or somewhere, if not then you either make the round trip or forget about it.

Are they listed on ebay vinpop?

Wtf? You left 'a few items' of clothes and they cost £1000?

You need to chalk that up to experience, an expensive lesson learned!

What evidence do you have that she actually took them from the hotel?

To let them know a teacher is a thief. I wouldn't want someone like that teaching my kids.

Why is everyone so ok with someone doing this.
Leaving them did not mean I lost them. The hotel would have sent them. She offered to take them back to the UK and post them to me.

Is it because they are expensive that I deserve it? If I thought I'd get them back by going to her house I would but if she's not replying to me how do I arrange that? I've offered to arrange a collection and no response

She has told me she has them

That's not going to give you the basis of a claim in court.

It's nothing to do with her employer. If someone contacted me saying that one of my team had done this I'd just reply saying it was none of my business and I wasn't getting involved.

Plus she might have just not got round to it. If it was me then even if I was interested enough to check the labels I wouldn't have a clue that All Saints was an expensive brand or have any idea the 4 items together were worth anywhere near £1k. So putting them on Ebay or whatever may not be as likely as some are suggesting

Do you think they are going to sack her based on an email from some random person?

You don't want to be doing anything that could be considered harrassment.

It's a shit situation, you made some unwise decisions, but there's actually not a lot of recourse for you here, but if you start emailing her work you could well get into trouble.

I think this is going to be your problem: she’s likely to say she forgot / never got around to collecting the clothes and unless the hotel are able to show you some kind of written proof they obtained from her with her name and signature on when they handed them over, you can’t make a small claim just because you have a gut feeling that she’s lying. You didn’t leave them in her possession, you left them in the hotel’s possession.

The hotel do. I had to email them to authorise them to give her the clothes and she had to sign for them. She also told me she has them.